Local ISP part of new statewide effort to enhance broadband service
By MARK MILLER
A new consortium of internet service providers will eventually have a local impact in expanding and enhancing high speed internet service in Wells County.
Craigville Telephone Co. — aka AdamsWells Internet, TV and Telecom — is a founding member of Hoosier Net, which officially launched June 1. The consortium’s main focus is “to launch a multi-year, multi-million-dollar network across Indiana to boost capacity, internet access, and reliability.”
The company’s formation comes at a critical time for Indiana, a news release stated, as federal and state authorities prepare to distribute billions of dollars in broadband grant funds under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
“Having statewide connectivity is vital for economic development by offering broadband providers faster speeds, more bandwidth, and lower latency, which will genuinely make a difference for Indiana,” said Scott Hiatt, Hoosier Net Board Member and CFO of Ninestar Connect.
Lee VonGunten, general manager of Craigville Telephone and AdamsWells, explained how this effort will impact Wells County:
When the network is completed, which he estimates will take from 12 to 18 months, “our ‘backbone’ to the internet will be enhanced with a new, high capacity ring architecture over fiber optics,” he explained, “and we will be in control of our own wide area, multistate network.”
The Indiana fiber network will partner with Indatel, a national network dedicated to providing fiber-optic telecommunications services in rural and urban areas.
“Indatel provides us with the competitive advantage we require, whether buying or selling transportation. It is the common link that provides Hoosier Net – and its member firms – with access to fiber that allows us to build our business,” said Dave Fox, Hoosier Net board member and general manager of Sweetser Telephone Company.
“We are glad to see that most Indiana Local Exchange Telephone Companies are re-establishing a statewide network in Indiana and will engage with us,” said Mel Wagner Jr., CEO of Indatel Services. “We’re thrilled to be working with Hoosier Net to help them monetize and grow their network.”
VonGunten added that Craigville currently has three routes out of their office “but we do not ‘own’ them.”
“With Hoosier Net, and our association with Indatel we will be able to offer better solutions for large customers with multiple state or national locations,” he said.
Besides Craigville, founding companies in this area include Citizen’s Telephone Co., Warren; New Paris Telephone Co., Rochester Telephone Co., Swayzee Telephone Co. and Sweetser Rural Telephone Co.
miller@news-banner.com
